LGBT POV

KABC News Channel 7, the local ABC News affiliate, featured a story at the top of their newscast about the upcoming ruling from Chief US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker on the constitutionality of Prop 8. That ruling will be issued between 1:00p and 3:00p today.

KABC News interviewed LA Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri Jean: ”Most of the experts believe that the case that the other side put on was so weak that they expect Judge Walker to issue a decision that says that the United States constitution protects gay people too, just like everybody else.”

Noting that the losing side will appeal the case for to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, then to the Supreme Court, Jean said: ”That is the scary part. This is the most conservative Supreme Court in 70 years in this country so it’s not a slam dunk.”

Possible GOP presidential candidate Fred Karger of Rights Equal Rights (formerly Californians Against Hate) told KGTV in San Diego that he is confident that Walker will overturn Prop 8.  ”I’m very optimistic,” Karger said. “It is an equal protection issue. Everyone should be treated equally.”

There has been some discussion about whether same sex couples should dash out and get married if Walker rules to overturn Prop 98, as expected. Protect Marriage has asked Walker to immediately stay his own ruling so as not to create more legal confusion. Walker is expected to order the stay.

Please note: San Diego-based veteran gay journalist Rex Wockner is keeping track of Day of Decision events at his blog. So far, he has information for 40 cities in 9 states.  There are two sites in Los Angeles: 6 pm at West Hollywood Park and at 8 pm Downtown Los Angeles at Olvera Street Plaza.

ADVISORY: I am also on deadline for Frontiers In LA and my news writer is on vacation. Posting may be light here as I write the other news for the magazine in order to be free to blog consistently once the decision is issued.  Don’t want to miss history!

LGBT Californians and Religious Right activists are anxiously awaiting District Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling on the constitutionality of Prop 8 – which is expected any day.  The decision will be immediately appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal by whichever side loses, with the idea of reaching the U.S. Supreme Court within the next few years.

But neither advocates nor opponents of marriage equality for same sex couples are sitting idly by, watching the clock. There is a quiet but massive effort by both sides to build cultural support for their position before the case reaches the high court. The latest effort was just launched by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Please click inside for the last on the Catholic Church’s “defense of marriage” campaign and why their latest video could end up being a spoof.

Wonder about what services the L.A.Gay & Lesbian Center have for women? For instance,  the Center has the Audre Lorde Lesbian Health Program that enables visitors to discuss intimate health issues without fear of embarrassment or intimidation.  The Center also has a Transgender Health Program, as well many other programs and activities not related to health issues.

Center CEO Lorri L. Jean and the Los Angeles Women’s Network hold a discussion about the Center’s services for women tonight from 7:30-9:30pm at the Renberg Theatre at The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, 1125 N. McCadden Place, Los Angeles, CA 90038. Some of the women who provide those services will also be present.

The format is for Lorri to make some remarks, then answer questions from the audience. Dr. Marki Knox, co-chair of the Center’s board of directors, will moderate the Q&A. A reception in the courtyard will follow. To RSVP, go to: www.facebook.com/centerlawn or call Nellie Sims at 323-993-7691

For the past six days, since early Sunday morning on June 6, 1,925 cyclists and about 500 volunteer roadies have braved the roads and weather for the 545-mile ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, as seen in this photo by Susan Goldman. AIDS/LifeCycle 9, organized by the LA Gay & Lesbian Center with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, raised $10 million for HIV/AIDS services.

For most of the riders, this arduous journey is a deep commitment to the fight against HIV/AIDS, often in memory of someone lost or dealing with the disease right now. Remember, not everyone can tolerate the strong combination drug therapies or their often difficult side effects.

A newly released LA County report,  “The 2009 Epidemiologic Profile of HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County,” says the number of AIDS deaths and diagnosed AIDS cases continue to drop each year, thanks to antiretroviral therapy. However, the number of people living with HIV/AIDS continues to increase. LA County says it estimates that more than 62,000 people are infected with HIV and AIDS, and over one in five of that number is not aware they are infected. African Americans are only 9% percent of the county’s population, they account for 22% of those living with HIV/AIDS. Additionally, nearly three out of four Latinos diagnosed with AIDS didn’t know they were infected until very late, often after being hospitalized.

Welcome home the riders SATURDAY, JUNE 12 – the Ceremony begins at 4:00pm at Lot 7 at the grounds of the Wadsworth Theatre, VA Center, 11301 Wilshire Blvd., LA

The 11th annual Trans-Unity Pride —the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s annual celebration for transgender, transsexual, gender-queer and cross-dressing individuals and those who love them—starts Thursday, June 3 and runs through Sunday, June 6.

Trans-Unity will include an art exhibit; workshops; speakers, a march; and the 11th annual Siren Awards to honor the work of transgender individuals, organizations and allies. 

Unless otherwise noted, events are FREE, substance-free and take place at the Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza in Hollywood.

Please click inside for more information, including highlights of the four day event.

We’re all so busy trying to figure out how to get federal equality bills passed – such as the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) – some of us forget about the everyday need for equality, safety and the right to be happy of our transgender sisters and brothers. But unity and camaraderie will be especially important in the next few weeks as the Religious Right and their right wing lapdogs in Congress try to kill ENDA over transgender protections. Expect some nasty language utilized in a crafty legislative fashion to peel off support from wobbly Democrats.

Transgender activists, in conjunction with Equality California and the Transgender Law Center held the first ever Transgender Lobby Day in Sacramento on Monday. They met with lawmakers to educate them on the need for good jobs and healthcare in the transgender community. (See news story below)

And in Los Angeles, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center is holding the free 11^th annual Trans-Unity Pride from June 3-6 at the Village in Hollywood. Trans-Unity Pride is also on Facebook.

Please click inside for more info and links.

The L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s “An Evening with Women: Celebrating Art, Music & Equality” was an extraordinary night during which Oscar-winner Renée Zellweger made a special appearance. The event raised more than $370,000 for the Center’s women’s services.

The Center says that “An Evening with Women” continues online at charitybuzz.com where anyone can bid on two exclusive items donated by celebrities associated with the event. Enter your bid until Friday, May 21 and you could:

• Take the custom-made dress off of Zellweger’s back! Designer Carolina Herrera—who created fashions for Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis—outfitted Herrera devotee Zellweger with a slinky, one-of-a-kind dress for ‘An Evening with Women.’ In keeping with the event’s musical slant, the deep red dress with black detail features keyboard design. Whether you love Zellweger, Herrera or both, this is a look you can definitely rock!
• Play like a real rock star! Bid on two 30-minute bass lessons with Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and learn the “magik” of rocking out!

The auction at www.charitybuzz.com will end on Friday, May 21.

US Sen. Barbara Boxer, who recently introduced a bill to extend COBRA health benefits to domestic partners, will be a featured speaker at Sunday’s Rock for Equality rally at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center in Hollywood. Boxer is expected to face a tough re-election battle this November.

But excitement is building over the anticipated announcement by Rep. Linda Sanchez, a member of the House Subcommittee on Social Security, that she plans to author legislation that would bring equality to Social Security benefits.

The Rock for Equality campaign organized by the LA Gay & Lesbian Center and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force demands an end to Social Security discrimination against tax-paying same sex couples. Organizers will rally at the Center’s McDonald/Wright headquarters at 1625 N. Schrader Blvd at 9:30am and then march down Hollywood Blvd and Vine Street for a “rocking chair rock-in” at the Social Security Administration building around 11:30am.

Please click inside for more info and to read the resolution passed by the LA City Council supporting efforts to bring equality to Social Security benefits.

The big “Evening with Women” is coming up on Saturday, May 1 and to entice women to participate – the LA Gay & Lesbian Center is holding a video contest. Here’s the contest info on Facebook. Here’s their promo:

“Win a luxurious Beverly Hills getaway for two, including VIP tickets and backstage passes to the hottest annual event for lesbians, bisexual women and their supporters: An Evening with Women hosted by Gina Gershon with special performances by Heart and Linda Perry and featuring Renee Zellweger and Sarah Silverman. The winner and guest will also enjoy a night at the glamorous Beverly Hilton, a spa treatment at Dtox and a $500 gift card toward travel on American Airlines!”

Constance McMillen Visits the LA Gay and Lesbian Center

By Guest blogger Jamie Wetherbe

Constance McMillen, the 18-year-old who sued her Mississippi high school after officials canceled the prom rather than let her take her girlfriend and wear a tux, made a stop at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center on Saturday, March 27. (Constance McMillen is pictured here with LA Gay & Lesbian Center CEO Lorri L. Jean.)

Accompanied by an ACLU representative, McMillan met with adults and other teens (a few Mississippi natives among them) to show her support for the Center’s charter school for LGBT youth.

Constance McMillen, the heroic teen who successfully sued her Mississippi high school after school officials canceled the prom rather than let her bring her girlfriend and wear a tux, will be welcomed with a reception at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s charter school for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT).

Accompanied by her ACLU attorney, McMillen will meet with other youth inspired by her story and answer questions about her experience.

The charter school, a satellite location of Opportunities for Learning, is housed at the Center’s Village at Ed Gould Plaza. The Center’s LifeWorks program opened the school, in partnership with Opportunities for Learning, because an appalling number of LGBT students face harassment and discrimination at traditional schools. At the Center’s school they learn in a safe, welcoming environment—and can bring any date they choose to the Prom in May.

WHAT: A reception at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s new school for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth—the only one of its kind in California—to welcome Constance McMillen, whose Mississippi high school called off prom rather than let her bring her girlfriend and wear a tux. McMillen will meet with students and other youth and take part in a Q&A in which students can ask questions about her experience.

WHO: Constance McMillen, Chris Hampton, ACLU attorney representing McMillen
Lorri L. Jean, CEO of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center
Michael Ferrera, director of the Center’s LifeWorks program, Molly Sircher, teacher at the Center’s satellite school

WHEN: Saturday, March 27 3:30 p.m.

WHERE: L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center 
The Village at Ed Gould Plaza 1125 N. McCadden Place
Los Angeles, CA 90038

COST: FREE

Songwriter/producer Linda Perry and Impresario/Event Producer Brent Bolthouse are co-chairing the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center’s “An Evening with Women: Celebrating Art, Music & Equality” event Saturday, May 1 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel – featuring Renée Zellweger (Bridget Jones’s Diary, Chicago), Gina Gershon (Bound, Showgirls) and music industry giant Heart.

On March 3, Perry hosted a VIP preview party at the famed Chateau Marmont, where Perry performed and guests included LA Ink’s Kat Von D, Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue and The L Word’s Clementine Ford all attended the party. Please click inside for more – plus photos.

It’s hard to describe to young LGBT activists what it was like 20 years ago when our friends and lovers were dying every week, slipping like water through our desperate clenched fists. There were no HIV/AIDS meds and no one cared – especially not the federal government. But we found ways to take care of ourselves and to love bravely as if dancing in a minefield, as Paul Monette used to say.

Paul Serchia was one of those who refused to give up on life, who gave to and honored others, even as cancer added to his burden of living with HIV/AIDS. Indeed, he had hoped to ride as a “Positive Pedaler” in the 2010 AIDS/LifeCycle8. Paul died last Tuesday, March 2. He was 52.

Please click inside to read remembrances from ACT UP/LA’s Peter Cashman, Jim Key from the LA Gay and Lesbian Center, and a blog post by Paul about his struggle with cancer.

IT’S TIME TO CHANGE THE LAW.

In the past decade alone, America’s same-sex couples have been unfairly deprived of more than $2 billion in Social Security benefits, according to the Williams Institute. As the LA Gay & Lesbian Center points out, “all of us are required to pay into Social Security equally, but many LGBT seniors are denied vital benefits afforded to others. This is wrong no matter what city, state, country, or planet you are from.”

The Center and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force have joined together “to fight to eliminate the unfair and unequal Social Security policies and secure full recognition of same-sex relationships. Rock for Equality will confront this under-recognized but outrageous form of economic discrimination against LGBT Americans.”

UPDATE: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and the Administration on Aging (AoA) just announced a 3-year grant to SAGE - Services & Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual & Transgender Elders – $900,000 to create a national resource center on LGBT aging.

Visit RockForEquality.org for the full story. Register to Rally and Rock With Us!

Sunday, April 11 in Los Angeles

Sunday, April 18 in Washington, D.C.

Rachel Maddow fans know how she gets all geeky-giggly when talking about “infrastructure” – how great the need is to fix and maintain the crumbling structures and the highways and byways that keep America moving.

Perhaps someone in the US Interior Department should talk to Michael Fleming, Executive Director of the David Bohnett Foundation to see how it’s done. Late Wednesday, Fleming announced grants totally $500,000 to “refresh” the computers in 24 David Bohnett CyberCenters across the United States, including the CyberCenter at the LA Gay & Lesbian Center. (Pictured: Paul Moore, Program Manager, David Bohnett Foundation and Lorri L. Jean, Chief Executive Officer of the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center; photo by Patricia Williams.)

The “refresh” program was started in 2004 to keep the CyberCenters up-to-date with each CyberCenter receiving brand new state-of-the-art equipment on a consistent basis, about every three to four years.

Building self-perpetuation into a development plan – what a concept! But this is not just routine maintenance: this is social activism quietly at work. Click inside to read more about the program and what cities are getting grants

At his Inauguration in 1960, President John F. Kennedy said the torch had been passed to a new generation. “Ask not what your country can do for you,” Kennedy said, “ask what you can do for your country.”

And young people by the thousands responded, joining the Peace Corp and creating a counter-culture that cared about eliminating racism and sexism and poverty. LGBT people were there, too – some on the frontlines like the late Morris Kight and Don Kilhefner who created the Los Angeles Gay Community Services Center as a refuge for those coming to terms with their gay identity.

But now, after 50 years of serving America in numerous ways – including automatically paying into Social Security – tax-paying LGBT seniors are asking their country to do something for them: they want – and need – the Social Security they deserve when a partner passes away. Many seniors are used to two-household incomes and without the Social Security supplement – especially in this economy – many seniors are finding themselves with huge bills, no money and living in their cars while awaiting precious and scarce affordable housing.

Leading a new campaign to bring awareness to the urgency of this issue is the LA Gay & Lesbian Center with the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. Wednesday they launched Rock for Equality, a rally & rock-in to call attention to and end the severe economic discrimination that is embedded in Social Security Administration policies and to secure equal recognition of same-sex relationships.”

They are producing a national event on either side of Tax Day. The first rocking rally will be held in Los Angeles on April 11, 2010, followed by another in Washington, D.C. on April 18.

Rock for Equality is also being lead by seniors themselves, some of whom are featured in this video and on the website. They are billing the event as “a new kind of protest for one of the most critical civil rights issues of the 21^st Century: equal rights, equal recognition and economic fairness for LGBT Americans.” Please click inside for more info.

The LA Gay & Lesbian Center responded quickly to the news that antigay Buju Banton had received a Grammy nomination for his album, Rasta Got Soul. Center Chief Public Affairs Officer Jim Key said in a statement Friday:

“We’re shocked that Buju Banton, a singer with a long record of performing a song that glorifies the murder of gay people, would be honored with a Grammy nomination, regardless of the artistic merit of any of his work.”

Similar complaints were made in 2001 about a young white rapper named Eminem whose lyrics were often violent towards women and gays. Artists such as Elton John defended Eminem’s poetry and his right to artistic expression. (Click inside to read more and see the video of Elton John and Eminem performing at the Grammys.) But in the case of Buju Banton, the more likely defense would be a cultural assumption that Banton’s Jamaican reggae dance hall “murder music” is a kissing-cousin to the catchy empowering tunes of the beloved late singer Bob Marley. The two could not be more different. Here’s the unique documentary Playing for Change version of Marley’s still moving “One Love.”

Read More →

Buju Banton, Elton John, Eminem, Jim Key, LA Gay and Lesbian Center

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky is trying something new – he’s posting his own blog on his newly designed website. (Hat tip to Kevin Roderick of LAObserved.)

Here’s part of his welcome:

More than three decades ago, in my mid-20s, I took my first oath of office as a member of the Los Angeles City Council. Today, I’m 60, and one of our county’s longest-serving elected officials. I’d like to think that constituents have given me the privilege of serving them on the council and the Board of Supervisors because they know I’ve consistently put their needs first.

Openly gay LA Police Commissioner Rob Saltzman looks like the distinguished USC legal academic he is. But on Tuesday, he emerged as a kind of Rachel Maddow-style Geek Superhero, catching the Boy Scouts of America-linked Learning for Life attorney in his attempt to flimflam the commission. After a decade of complaints from the LGBT community, the Police Commission finally agreed to sever ties between the LAPD and the BSA-Learning for Life Explorers Program. In two weeks, the LAPD must come back with a detailed plan for its own youth program. Click inside for details – and red flag warnings.

Tomorrow morning, the Los Angeles Police Commission will once again hold a public hearing concerning the connection between the LAPD’s Explorers Program and the Boy Scouts of America, which proudly and legally discriminates against LGBT people. A new opinion by LA City Attorney Carmen Trutanich calls for the LAPD to sever ties to the Boy Scouts – but that’s not as easy as it may sound. For at least 8 years since the LA City Council first ordered the LAPD to sever ties, the LA Police Commission has dodged the issue. I argue here that by failing to sever ties, the Police Commission is complicit with the Boys Scouts’ bigotry and is continuing to fail LGBT youth. Click inside for my argument.